Apparatus and method for supporting real-time services in a wireless network

Abstract

A system and method for supporting real-time services in a wireless network that uses ARQ. The system provides for discarding a packet before all the prescribed subpackets have been transmitted, and transmitting the next packet.

1 . For use in a wireless network, a mobile station capable of packet data communications, said mobile station comprising: 
 a circuit for receiving radio-frequency signals, including packet data communications, wherein the packet data communications includes a series of packets, at least some packets having a first subpacket and a plurality of subsequent subpackets; and    a processor, connected to decode the packet data communications, wherein the processor is configured to examine each received subpacket to determine if the received subpacket includes preamble data,    wherein if one of the subsequent subpackets of a received packet includes preamble data, then that subpacket is identified as the first subpacket of a new packet, and all other subpackets of the received packet are discarded.    
     
     
         2 . The mobile station as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said mobile station is capable of communicating according to the 1xEV-DO Revision A Standard.  
     
     
         3 . The mobile station as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said mobile station is configured to send an acknowledgement after a subpacket has been received and the original packet has been successfully reconstructed.  
     
     
         4 . The mobile station as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said mobile station is configured to send a negative acknowledgement after a subpacket has been received and the original packet has not been successfully reconstructed.  
     
     
         5 . The mobile station as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each packet has eight subpackets.  
     
     
         6 . For use in a wireless network, a mobile station capable of packet data communications, said mobile station comprising: 
 a circuit for receiving radio-frequency signals, including packet data communications, wherein the packet data communications includes a series of packets, at least some packets having a first subpacket and a plurality of subsequent subpackets; and    a processor, connected to decode the packet data communications, wherein the processor is configured to detect a last subpacket identifier,    wherein if a last subpacket identifier is detected, then the next subpacket received is determined to be the first subpacket of a new packet.    
     
     
         7 . The mobile station as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said mobile station is capable of communicating according to the 1xEV-DO Revision A Standard.  
     
     
         8 . The mobile station as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said mobile station is configured to send an acknowledgement after a subpacket has been received and the original packet has been successfully reconstructed.  
     
     
         9 . The mobile station as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said mobile station is configured to send a negative acknowledgement after a subpacket has been received and the original packet has not been successfully reconstructed.  
     
     
         10 . The mobile station as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein each packet has eight subpackets.  
     
     
         11 . The mobile station as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the last subpacket identifier is detected in a data slot forward data channel received by the mobile station.  
     
     
         12 . For use in a wireless network, a base station capable of packet data communications, said base station comprising: 
 a circuit for transmitting radio-frequency signals, including packet data communications, wherein the packet data communications includes a series of packets, at least some packets having a first subpacket and a plurality of subsequent subpackets;    a circuit for receiving radio-frequency signals, including acknowledgements indicating that a transmitted packet has been successfully received and decoded, and including negative acknowledgements indicating that a transmitted packet has not been successfully received and decoded; and    a processor, connected to encode and decode the packet data communications,    wherein if multiple subpackets of a first packet have been sent without receiving a corresponding acknowledgement, then the base station is configured to discard the first packet and send the first subpacket of a second packet.    
     
     
         13 . The base station as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said base station is capable of communicating according to the 1xEV-DO Revision A Standard.  
     
     
         14 . The base station as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each first subpacket includes a preamble identifying it as the first subpacket of a packet.  
     
     
         15 . The base station as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the multiple subpackets are at least half the total number of subpackets in the packet.  
     
     
         16 . The base station as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein when the first packet is discarded, the base station transmits a last subpacket identifier.  
     
     
         17 . The base station as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the last subpacket identifier is transmitted in a data slot of a forward data channel transmitted by the base station.  
     
     
         18 . The base station as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the base station transmits VoIP communications over a data-only network.  
     
     
         19 . The base station as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each packet has at least eight subpackets.  
     
     
         20 . The base station as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein if multiple subpackets of a first packet have been sent and multiple corresponding negative acknowledgements have been received, then the base station is configured to discard the first packet and send the first subpacket of a second packet.